Figures from the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders show that in the first month of 2009, 1,173 Jaguar cars produced at the Banbury Road firm were sold, compared to 757 in January last year.

But sales of its sister make Land Rover, the headquarters of which are based at the same site, went down by 52 per cent during the same period from 3,327 to 1,588.

The company has had a particularly tough few months in recent times, with 1,300 job losses since before Christmas.

A spokesman explained that Jaguar's increase was due to a new model having been introduced in March.

He said: "As the new XF was about to be launched, in January last year we did not have a model for that segment of the market.

"The S-Type, which preceded the XF, was in the final stages of being sold out so there were very few of them sold that month.

"We were also just about to introduce a revived version of the X-Type, so the volumes for Jaguar were considerably down as a result.

"It's encouraging that the XF continues to sell well and we hope it will continue to do so this year. We have new models coming out, which will hopefully keep a positive momentum going."

He added: "For Land Rover, clearly it has suffered in the current climate particularly badly. January last year was an all-time record month in sales - things have obviously changed significantly since then."

Sales at Aston Martin, also based at the Banbury Road site, went down by 48 per cent from 95 in January 2008 to 51 last month.
Nationally, car sales decreased by 31 per cent - the biggest monthly decline for 35 years.

"URGENT ACTION NEEDED"
Jaguar Land Rover's chief executive David Smith has called on the government to act immediately on promises to help the UK's motoring industry.

Speaking at a manufacturer's event in Birmingham last week - which was attended by business secretary Peter Mandelson - Mr Smith said: "It would now be a tragedy were the aid package not to be delivered in time to avert the industrial consequences of another quarter like this one."

He pointed out that billions of support had been provided by the German, French, Swedish and the American governments to their automotive industries, adding: "Action is needed right now in the UK - not just for the short-term task of protecting jobs and skills, but also to ensure the country has the right foundations for economic success in the future."

Mr Smith said Jaguar Land Rover supported 75,000 jobs, spent £2.5 billion with suppliers and its exports earned more than £4 billion a year for the UK.